Paraíba (PB)
Area: 36,439.838 km2
Population: 3,623,215
Capital: João Pessoa
GDP: U.S. $ 19,953 billion
Coastline: 133 km
Potential Activities: Crafts, Electric-electronic Caprinovinocultura, Fruits, Retail Trade, wood and furniture, Civil Construction, Textiles and clothing, leather and footwear and Tourism
IBGE data indicate that the state grew 6.7% in 2006, registering a value of $ 19.953 billion against U.S. $ 16.869 billion recorded in 2005. With this result, the GDP of Paraiba is the 19th largest in the country, presenting the 14th largest increase in volume (20.1%) in the series 2002-2006. GDP per capita was U.S. $ 5,507 thousand in 2006, against R $ 4,691 in 2005.
The agriculture - which grew 19.9% - was the sector that contributed most to GDP growth of Paraiba, accounting for 7.2% of the economy in 2006. This result is due mainly to increased production of main agricultural products: corn (155.52%), beans (90%), rice (64.63%), cane sugar (24%), pineapple ( 5.43%) and banana (2.79%). The good winter recorded in semi-arid region of the state was considered the main factor of this performance. Already the herd grew 3.87%, while the sheep increased 0.86%.
The industry also contributed to GDP growth of Paraiba, with a rate of 6.5% and manufacturing industry grew 9.5% in 2006, driven by branches of leather and footwear (13%), pulp and products paper (11%), food, beverages and clothing accessories (both 9%), newspapers, magazines, records (8%) and textiles (2%).
Good performance was also achieved by the services sector, with participation in the economy at around 70% in 2005 and 2006 and 5% growth in 2006. The result is due to carry trade, which had volume of 8.8%, with emphasis on the automobile, motorcycles, parts and accessories, which rose 25% in the previous year. Despite presenting a minor contribution that other sectors also recorded growth were transport, storage, mail (5.37%), production services, distribution of electricity, gas, water, sewerage, sanitation (3.55%), health administration and public education (2.71%).
Integrated Development Polo - Alto Piranhas
The Alto Polo Piranhas comprises the municipalities of Aparecida, Joao Pessoa, Cajazeirinhas Condado, Marizópolis, Pombal, São Bentinho, São Domingo, São Francisco, São João do Rio do Peixe, Sousa and Vieirópolis.
Situated within a radius of 450km from the state capital, João Pessoa, the Polo is connected by paved roads, good
quality to all cities in the Northeast and by rail to the cities of Fortaleza, Campina Grande and the port of Joao Pessoa, which accounts for much of the flow of production of the states of Paraíba, Pernambuco and Rio Grande do Norte.
The Pole has works of water infrastructure sufficient to initiate an aggressive increase in irrigated area, soil has high potential for agricultural use, even with some agribusinesses already installed. There is also a well-structured industrial park and several telecommunications services.
The region also has a high level of production, mainly vegetables and grains. In the recent past, was one of the most important centers of production and industrialization of cotton in the Northeast. There are also areas for the production of fruit (banana, papaya, mango, grape, pine, cherry, soursop and coconut), vegetable crops (melon and watermelon) and for cattle, sheep and goats.
There are opportunities for those wishing to invest in the production and sale of inputs in general, machinery, equipment and implements, packing houses, production and sale of cardboard boxes and plastic plants and seeds, agro juice, fruit and sweets, transportation companies and trading companies.
In auxiliary activities are presented good prospects for hotels, restaurants and leisure facilities, hospitals and schools. There is still opportunity for business in the tourist exploring the lode of tourism related to the prehistoric animals that left traces in the region.
Tourism Polo- Costa das Piscinas
The Polo Costa das Piscinas includes 12 counties stretching over an area of 2503 kilometers ², with a resident population of about 964 thousand people. They are miles from a beautiful and lush coastline that can be enjoyed by the breadth of its beaches - from the most desert to urban, with excellent bathing, the coastal ecosystems (estuaries of rivers, swamps, dunes, sea cliffs and ridges) and the beauty scenic.
It includes islands such as Areia Vermelha(Cabedelo) and Picãozinho - with its beautiful coral pools in Joao Pessoa - the naturist beach Tambaba in the municipality of Conde, one of the few in the Northeast. Other attractions are the beaches and other natural attractions paradise. The beach of Barra do Rio Mamanguape is located in an important area of Environmental Conservation, which is located in the Center of Peixe-Boi. In the Bay of Traição, is the last remaining stronghold of the Indian Tribe Potiguara in Paraíba, where cultures coexist peacefully of old fishermen
and the customs of the indigenous culture.
Infrastructure
Are more than 5,300 kilometers of roads, 4000 kilometers state and federal 1300 kilometers. The rail system is the transport of cargo between Joao Pessoa and several locations in the State. It has two airports: Aeroporto Castro Pinto, is 8 km from Joao Pessoa, with 2,515 m runway, good conditions for landing of large aircraft, operates scheduled domestic and international system of the Charter, Airport and John Suassuna located nearby to the industrial district of Campina Grande, operates daily flights to Brasilia and the South, via Recife. The Cabedelo Port, 18 km from Joao Pessoa, is the most eastern of Brazil. It has 700 m long and 300 m wide. Handled 1.2 million tons in 1995, especially oil, general cargo and grain. It is equipped to the satisfaction for the handling of general cargo and containers.
Source: Regional Accounts of Brazil - IBGE 2006 / Bank of Northeast Brazil
